PARIS'S POV

I kept walking. Just kept walking, because if I were to turn around and have a conversation with Kate about anything else, I was bound to lose my mind.. Or perhaps do something outside of reason. And there were simply some things that the mate bond did not permit me to engage in.


So I stomped all the way into the house, breathing heavily until my mind was clear.

"You seem to have your knickers in a twist." my mother said when she saw me, and I could only look at her grimly,

"Why wouldn't I be?" I said, and kept walking, "When all of you are in this house are all mad." I finished and kept going so she wouldn't engage with me in my conversation.


I was just freshly out of the shower when I received a call from Jackson. Possibly to talk to me about Kate. I didn't even know how I was supposed to tell him that I hadn't done a thing except ask her to leave. There were just some things that I could not bring myself to do when it came to Kate.

And was that not the reason why Ember was no longer mine?


"Jackson?"

"did you forget the meeting?" he asked, and I raised a brow,

"What meeting?"

"with Jean."

"Oh," I said and rubbed at my temple. We were supposed to meet up with Jean that morning, and I nearly forgot because I had been occupied with offering retribution to Kate. "to be honest, I actually did forget. But nevertheless, I'm all dressed up, so I'll join you all soon."

"Fine and good. Did you deal with Kate?" I had been expecting that question, and even then I still didn't have a satisfactory response.

"I asked her to leave the house." silence ensued and it was deafening,

"Just leave? No, arrow of justice? The strong hand of retribution? A constant reminder not to play with metals?" Jackson asked and I smiled despite how I was feeling,

"I couldn't bring myself to hurt her physically, Jackson. No matter how far I might have come in letting her go, there are still some things that are too strong for me when it comes to this damn bond. This is one of them."

"I see," Jackson said, and I wasn't sure just how much he really saw, but at least I heard some understanding in his tone.

"yes." I said, heaving a sigh, "In any case, I'll be ready soon and be on my way for the meeting."

"No problem," Jackson replied and hung up and I set my phone aside.

A meeting with Jean. And something told me the man was bound to have fire in his eyes.

Both Jean and Jackson were already at the cabin when I arrived, and I had to wonder when that cabin had become the designated meeting ground.

"took you long enough," Jean said gruffly when I got there and took my seat, and I simply shrugged,

"I had things to tend to."

"We all do," Jean said with a raised brow,

"Ah well." was my simple reply, and he leaned closer toward me,

"Your woman hurt Ember," he said angrily, and it was my turn to raise a brow. I had been expecting this topic, but for some reason, it still managed to set me on edge. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact Jean had called her my woman.

"I am aware," I started, not sure I wanted to get into this conversation with Jean. Ember was a sensitive topic between us. Ironic, because the only reason we were even working together was because of Ember. But what actually itched was the way he seemed to make it look as though Ember belonged to him, and Kate was mine, so then, what was mine, hurt what was his.

It was annoying, and only added to the annoyance I had felt all morning.

"I know you are. It's what you've done about it that I have limited knowledge of."

"The alpha is working on it, so why don't we leave that for him to handle?" Jackson cut in, but Jean held up his hand,

"I'd really like to hear from Alpha Paris himself, to be honest."

"wouldn't you? But as you have so graciously stated, Kate Is my woman, so let me deal with her as I see fit. After all, what happens in my pack land is my business and does not really concern you."

"fair enough." Jean said nodding, "What happens in your pack is not for me to meddle with and you would deal with things just as you see fit, just as I would in mine. But I need to remind you that Ember is my mate, and my priority is to make sure that she is kept safe. There is nothing that I would not do to achieve that end." he said coldly,

"Same as her," I said calmly,

"and just what have you done to Kate to ensure she no longer gets to hurt Ember?"

"I have dealt with it, and I am still dealing with it. "

"That's not enough. That answer isn't enough, damn it." Jean said, slapping his hand against the armrest of his chair, "I am sick and tired of this. Sick and tired of Ember getting hurt, meanwhile the people who are responsible get away with it again and again. If you won’t do something about this, I will."

"I never said anyone would get away with anything."

"but you aren't telling me that the one who has perpetrated evil against Ember is being severely punished... You also aren't telling me that. And that Is troubling. That you would all sit and act like all is fine, meanwhile, Ember must heal from yet another wound, she must balm yet another scar."

"You speak like you alone care for Ember. I do too. I would not be here if I didn't." I said, needing to get through to him. Choosing to leave out the part that I had taken that hit for her. Because I would do it again and again.

"You know, I don't doubt that you care for her... No, that isn't my fear at all. You want to know what fearsome, Alpha Paris is?" jean asked, his French accent ever so thick from his intensified emotions,

"I believe you would like to tell me."

"I do. Because my fear is not that you don't care for Ember enough. My fear is that whether or not you wish for it, Kate is your mate, and when it comes to her, your vision and thinking will always be a bit blurred. Even when..especially when she is in the wrong."

I was quiet for a moment because that truly was something that hit home. I knew that bond with Kate made me do some certain things, or in this case, made me not do some certain things.

But if he was implying that in this situation, I was going to sit still and leave things as they were, then he was wrong, and he needed to know that.

“That doesn’t mean I’m okay with the things she has done.”

“You don’t have to be okay with them. And I’m not saying that you are. I’m saying that it clouds your decisions. In the situations when you should strike her, you hold back, because the mate bond makes you have compassion on her. I’m not condemning you for that, I’m only asking that you acknowledge the fact.”

“Acknowledged.” I said stiffly and he shook his head.

“I haven’t spoken to Ember about this gathering of ours for reasons that we are all acquainted with . But I did promise Ember that I wouldn’t rest until she was safe. I respect you enough to deal with Kate in a way you seem fit. But I won’t sit back and wait until the next time she hurts Ember to do something.”

“I’m not asking you to.” I said and shook my head, “she isn’t the only one responsible. If you need someone to attack, then you can go after her accomplice.”

“Give me names then.”

“I don’t know his name.” I said, raising my hands and letting them fall flat. And I realized in that moment, that if I was willing to accept it, this bond did cloud my judgment a bit.

Because why the hell had I not gone out of my way to know the damned cousin?

“ I need names, Paris. And I need them urgently. I’ll let you deal with Kate as you please, but ensure she stays away from Ember. But I trust you have not sentiments toward this cousin, so if you don’t mind, I need names. I need retribution.”

“Sure thing.” I said and Jean smiled,

“And perhaps, if my mood gets better by the end of this meeting, I just might exact revenge for you, since that metal actually hurt you.” Jean said, smiling coldly, and I shook my head,

“Vengeance is for the Lord, Jean.” I said quietly and he surprised me by laughing.

“I’ll be the Lord’s tool then.”